ODU Alumnus Justin Verlander Joins 2009 American League All-Star Team

Old Dominion University alumnus Justin Verlander has been selected to the 2009 American League All-Star team. The teams were announced during the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 5.

This is the second All-Star selection for Verlander, who pitched in the 2007 game. This year's 80th midsummer classic will be played July 14 in St. Louis.

Verlander pitches for the Detroit Tigers, who currently enjoy the lead in the American League Central.

His selection was widely expected, honoring a year in which last season's AL leader in losses reversed his fortune to again become one of baseball's toughest starting pitchers. With a fastball that has frequently topped out around 100 mph and a devastating curveball, Verlander leads the American League with 130 strikeouts, 44 of which came in a four-start stretch in early May as he embarked on a winning streak of seven consecutive decisions.

He is currently 8-4 overall with a 3.54 earned run average.

Verlander pitched for the Monarchs from 2002-04. He is the all-time strikeout king at ODU, as well as in the Colonial Athletic Association and the commonwealth of Virginia, with 427 strikeouts in 335.2 innings of work. He earned All-CAA honors and was the university's Alumni Association Male Athlete of the Year.

Verlander, a native of Manakin-Sabot, Va., tossed a no-hitter against Milwaukee on June 12, 2007. The 2002 CAA Rookie of the Year also played for Team USA in the 2003 Pan Am Games.